Operation Cymbal

Operation Cymbal (17 November 1969) was a defensive military operation carried out by the MACV-SOG during the Vietnam War, with the goal of defending Saigon from the Viet Cong.

Battle
The Viet Cong, armed by Soviet Union tanks, weaponry, and advisers, broke out of the Iron Triangle in late 1969 and moved on the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon. The Viet Cong attacked the outskirts of the city and the United States sent troops to assist the ARVN in pushing the communist troops back. Two counter spy-planes and a transport helicopter were shot down by US Strelas and LAWs, and 100 Viet Cong troops were killed in close urban combat that left 83 Americans dead. The result of the battle was a reset of the pre-battle conditions.